In accordance with Article 144.044 of the Agriculture Code “Recording,” on
Wednesday August 31, 2011, the Clerk’s Office will begin the process of renewals
of cattle brands.

Anyone with a registered brand will have until Wednesday, February 29,
2012 to renew their registration. On Friday, March 1, 2012, all brands
that have not been renewed will become “open brands” for the general public.

Any brand that is not renewed becomes “void” on March 1, 2012, in accordance
with the Agriculture Code.

The definition of a brand as defined by the Texas and
Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is “mark plus location.” The recording
fee will be $26.00 per brand plus $5 for each additional location.

“There were 341 registered brands filed with our office ten years ago, we hope
to have that many or more this year,” Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips said.
“We have also placed the application online to facilitate the process of filing
a brand. There are four easy steps: fill in the application, print it, draw your
brand, and bring in the application to be filed at the County Clerk’s office.
The process couldn’t be any simpler.”

A brand application is available online at smith-county.com in the “County
News” section along with “Brand and Mark Guidelines”, a “Release of Ownership”
form, and a list of possible brand locations. Brands applications and renewals
can be filed with the Smith County Clerk’s Records Department, Monday
through Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm on the basement level of the Smith County
Courthouse Annex, 200 E. Ferguson, Tyler, Texas. For more information please
call 903-590-4688.